Anyone have any input on this car?
Ive been bored looking around at various hatches and these seem to be an amazing deal. Im not seeing too much wrong with the car except maybe the stigma of driving a focus( which honestly isnt that big of a deal). It seems everything done by SVT has been amazing and the engine was also tuned by cosworth which is pretty notable. I like the minor facelift they did to it, sporty looking but not ricer. The power is decent for the car and it has nice 1/4 mile and 0-60 times for its class.
I know the interior isnt anything to write home about but it seems functional enough. The 6spd tranny also gets me a bit excited.

So can anyone chime in and give me some input on what they think of these

 

Pics.

 

maybe this will work better

 

I personally don't desire one, but it seems like a good bargain. The Europeans get the real good ones.

 

My girlfriend drives a Focus, granted not an SVT, but it's actually a pretty fun little car to drive with the manual transmission. That said, they're just like any other economy car out there, loud road noise and very basic amenities. Not a bad car by any means, but not one I'd pick out of a crowd.

 

never been a fan of the focus'.

my friend had the svt package though in a 6spd i believe and it was pretty fun to ride in..nothing spectacular though.

 

While id love to own a focus rs, i know it aint happening. I understand the svt is just a spruced up version of the economy version and its economy side will show. the manual trans in the svt is a totally different trans from the regular version (svt is the same one as in the cooper s)

 

what would anyone recommend over the focus in its class(including being a hatch) and price range (5-7k)

 

have you looked into VW gti?

better performance.

not up to par on the reliability of them but i know you can get one in the price range your looking to spend.

 

Anti ford...

 

The next gen Focus is hot.

 

Just do it.



But not in green.

 

been in one. its pretty torquey for what it is. get the headers

 

Grassroots Motorsports magazine recently did a very positive writeup on the Focus SVT. Not sure what issue, but it was within the last 9 months.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/

 

love it.

 

i dont think mkvs are in my price range. And im not too big on the mkiv, whether it be the 1.8t or the 2.8 (already had an a4 with the 2.8 and while it was a decent engine, not really keen on a 6 cylinder that doesnt really put out power and isnt too fuel efficient)

 

STi?

 

The SVT Ford smaller cars were well built and very well engineered. I owned a 2000 SVT Contour (#379 out of 2150 for 2000) and it would run circles around a 3-series Bimmer in a road course turning in .92g skit pads in stock trim.

I once drove an SVT Focus and the only thing I remember was it was a light and great handler and it had the shortest clutch takeup I've ever encountered.

 

ive been looking at the contours also. I like the focus a bit more just because it comes as a hatch but contours are cheap and quick.
I know svt wont put their name on some half assed product

 

I considered buying a Focus SVT when I was shopping for a small fun economy car. I ended up with my '04 Civic Si just because I'm a Honda guy at heart and it was selling cheap because people didn't like the looks of it. I never did drive the SVT simply because after reseaching them online I kept hearing about interior rattles and cheap plastics so I passed on even testing one out, but that really was the only negative I could find on them. From what I remember on the reviews they were very very fun to drive and were quick and great handling for what they are. I actually kind of wish I had given it more thought because although I did like the Si, it lacked the quickness I expected from a "hot hatch". I think the SVT would probably have fit that bill more. I'm sure you'll get a bunch of poeple chimming in that it's a Ford so stay away, but the Focus were one of the few they built really well at that period in time, and the SVT was the one to get if you were shopping for a Focus.

 

It would be awesome if they had the European focus here in the US. It essentially has a Volvo S40 T5 AWD drivetrain. I owned that car and its a very underestimated drivetrain. Cant imagine something like that with the weight/body of a focus hatch.

 

I was looking at the s40 also since i see alot of people on focus forums with them. I just cant get myself to like the older body style though, the new one is nice but way out of my price range for the turbo version. I also like the svt for the aluminum bits they did to it, and the strengthening of the rods

 

EP3 Si?

 

Ive considered the EP3. I think they look great and Ive ridden in a few and enjoyed them very much. Im just worried about insuring one and theft since it is a civic. Also Im sure they are much more expensive than a focus. But when it comes time to look seriously, the ep3 will definately be in consideration

 

yea id go with a civic si hatch if you could if not i would have no problem driving a svt focus . and dosnt the rs have like 300hp????

 

You don't have to worry about anyone stealing the EP3. It's not a "hot" car like the previous gen SI's. I had an '04 EP3 and it was a great car. I believe the SVT was a tab bit quicker and better handling, but the shifter on the EP3 is pure heaven.

 

^^Wow, totally random bump. I've also been considering selling my car and getting a smaller, more fuel efficient car since my commute just got 10 minutes longer each way and I'm driving two, potentially three days more in the future per week.

From asking around, EP3s generally don't get messed with much. Some people say they look like mini-Odysseys but the EP3 grew on me a long time ago. The B16 in the older Si coupe is a funner engine to wring out but those get messed with even when stock. EP3s probably have the least desirable K-series engine and far from popular OEM wheels. If you keep it nondescript looking and sounding you shouldn't get messed with much, if at all

that said the Focus is probably a better performer, though I haven't had any seat time in an SVT one to know. The EP3 isn't exactly lightweight for it's size. In any case the Focus probably has much fewer chances of getting messed with.

 

The svt seems like a decent car.

 

I was a fan of the SVT Focus and Contour. My gf (now wife) had a Contour Sport with the 2.0L Zetec and the handling of that car was very impressive.

Ford's build quality has come a long way...which means it had to be low to come up to the standards it has today. Expect some rattles (as you mentioned) and some cheap plastics, but enjoy the SVT engineering and still solid looks.

I say go for it...at the $5-7K range, it's not like you're going to have this car for the rest of your life and it's a hellavula performance bargain (with relative reliability) for that price.

 

Yep, keep it non-descript if you're that worried about it being messed with. I'll tell you though, some decent upgraded 17" wheels really changes the look a lot. I loved how the replica Advan Model Vs looked on mine. And oddly enough people seemed to respect it more than my Accord. Not one door check, ding or key mark on the Si; the Accord on the other hand.

 

^ Get that instead.

 

RSX is dirt cheap now too...

 

An old friend of mine had an '02 Focus SVT and then a '99 Contour SVT. I liked the Contour much more. It was only a 2.5 liter V6 but was pretty quick and had a nice interior. If your into modding, there isn't much aftermarket for that model, but the Focus has decent support.

I don't know what the Contour goes for these days, but it's worth considering.